Strahan weather sizzles, reaching 37.9 degrees

By
CAITLIN HEATHCOTE

STRAHAN has sizzled through its hottest January day and has smashed its previous monthly record reaching 37.9 degrees about 1pm yesterday and it's not over yet.

Strahan weather sizzles, reaching 37.9 degrees

These Devonport youngsters found the bottom of the pool at the new Splash Aquatic and Leisure Centre was the ideal spot to cool off in yesterday's sizzling heat. The swimmers are (from left) Mason Rataj, 8, Isiah Compagne, 8, Eliza Compagne, 12, and Taryn Rataj, 10. Picture: Katrina Dodd.

STRAHAN has sizzled through its hottest January day and has smashed its previous monthly record reaching 37.9 degrees about 1pm yesterday and it's not over yet.

The state and the country are in the grip of a heatwave and according to the Bureau of Meteorology the conditions are expected to continue on the Coast until Saturday .

Melting bitumen is testament to the sweltering temperatures experienced across the North and North-West of the state with record-breaking temperatures experienced in many inland areas.

Tasmania Police issued a warning yesterday afternoon to alert motorists of hazardous conditions caused by the melting bitumen on roads in the North and the Tasmanian Fire Service has put in place a total fire ban for the South and North of the state.

BOM senior forecaster Tim Bolden said the North-West Coast was experiencing a hotter than average January with the temperatures reached at Strahan yesterday testament to that fact.

Strahan's previous January record was 35.6 degrees.

``Strahan has smashed through its old record so its pretty safe to say that we're experiencing hotter than average January [temperatures],'' Mr Bolden said.

Despite the spike in January temperatures Strahan is yet to break its all-time heat record of 38.6.

Mr Bolden said the heatwave was being caused by changing wind patterns and said each day was a different scenario.

``Today [January 14] was a hot northerly but tomorrow [January 15] we're looking at that shifting to a southerly,'' he said.

Mr Bolden said the state was still expecting some sea breezes which should help to cool some parts of the state but said Smithton was expected to reach a top of 30 degrees and Wynyard was expected to reach 32.

Deloraine is expected to peak at 38 degrees, which Mr Bolden said was due to a hot southerly pushing through the North.

Sea breezes are thought to keep Coastal cities around 20 and 30 degrees.